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Tourists pose in front of the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign Tuesday, March 6, 2012.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 | 1:53 p.m.
The 10-space parking lot at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign has become so popular that Clark County will spend $500,000 to add 20 more spaces.
On the median of Las Vegas Boulevard South, near Mandalay Bay, the 53-year-old sign is ground zero for tourists, who flock to the Las Vegas icon to have their picture taken.
Dodging traffic to get to the sign became a dangerous endeavor, so the county built the parking lot to provide better access. But the line for photos is still long, and Denis Cederburg, the county public works director, said more parking spaces are needed.
County Commissioner Steve Sisolak said his office has received complaints that some of the wedding chapels in town are cutting in front of people waiting in line because they have sold wedding packages that include a photo by the sign.
Cederburg said the county will look into posting signs noting that no group or business has special privileges.
How can a parking space cost $25,000 apiece. It's no wonder our budgets are overdrawn.
This is asinine.
"wedding chapels in town are cutting in front of people waiting in line because they have sold wedding packages that include a photo by the sign."
Wouldn't matter if the PACKAGES included First Class Tickets to THE MOON. They get away with it because YOU, THE PEOPLE, let them.
Grow some HAIR and tell them to get in line like the rest.
I agree with atj.
Hopefully this lot will allow entry from the north bound lanes. As it is, the only entry is from the south bound lanes and it always creates confusion, sudden u-turns and traffic snarls.
For such a world famous landmark, its absurd it only has 10 spaces or 20 additional spaces, I wonder if other world famous landmarks have a 30 space parking lot hahahahaha usa! usa! usa!
There is more to the cost than just laying down pavement. There will have to be excavation of the existing median, leveling of the area and pouring of foundation before the pavement is laid. It's not like the city can just show up with a truck and lay down asphalt.
The parking lot is a great idea to begin with, and perhaps it should have been made larger from the beginning. When I first came here as a tourist there were no spots at all, and people would just stop in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard and walk over to the sign. This is definitely a better setup.
Maybe they should move the sign to a spot that is not in the middle of the highway?
Hopefully they will also do something about the design of the exit from the parking lot as well. These stupid tourists exit the parking lot not paying attention that the exit dumps them into a 45mph lane from a standstill. I have to drive past that sign on my way to and from work. I can't tell you how many times I have had them pull out in front of myself and other cars as well. Then mix in all the wild taxi drivers and it's a recipe for trouble.
How about a modest parking fee to recover the cost of the parking, upkeep, and security for the attraction.
Assuming 30 spaces, $1 per auto, complete turnover every hour, every day of the year:
$1 x 30 x 12 x 365 = $131,400.
A modest and useful pay-as-you-go sum.
UNLV charges us to go to the administrative building. Why should we not pay to visit a sign?
$500,000? You must be kidding. Not justified. Leave it as is.
I hate stupid spending as much as the next guy but I think this is a great idea.
The money is a pittance when you consider the revenue it brings to Las Vegas.
I have driven by that sign at all hours of the day and night..... there is always a line.
The price tag seems reasonable when you consider all the traffic control issues they will deal with during construction.
About time too! I was there for my wedding last year, and the place was so packed, that my brother in law had to drop us off and wait for a call - missing out on the pictures. 30 spaces is not enough though. A huge tourist attraction like that should have its own parking lot. And while they are at it - build a walkway to get there - rather than the run across the road if you are walking!
whatsyourlasvegas.yolasite.com
$500,000 here; $581,000 there. Soon, it will add up to real money, to paraphase Everett Dirkson. Between this expenditure and the stupid "study," we now have a better idea of why Clark County is broke! The fools on the Commission just can't find enough ways to drive us deeper in debt! They simply cannot prioritize as you & I do in our private lives. They're like kids in a candy store; buying everything in sight - with other peoples money, of course!
Here's a thought. Move the sign to north of Sahara so it is actually in LAS VEGAS! How funny when you put a sign saying Welcome to Las Vegas that is not even in the town you are saying welcome to.